Software-managed programmable congruence class caching mechanism

Details Software-managed programmable congruence class caching mechanism Software-managed programmable congruence class caching mechanism

1997-04-14

1999-12-07

Cabeca, John W.

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory

Storage accessing and control

Hierarchical memories

711145, 711118, G06F 1208

Patent

active

060000147

ABSTRACT:
A method of providing programmable congruence classes in a cache used by a processor of a computer system is disclosed. Program instructions are loaded in the processor for modifying original addresses of memory blocks in a memory device to produce encoded addresses. A plurality of cache congruence classes is then defined using a mapping function which operates on the encoded addresses, such that the program instructions may be used to arbitrarily assign a given one of the original addresses to a particular one of the cache congruence classes. The program instructions can modify the original addresses by setting a plurality of programmable fields. Application software may provide the program instructions, wherein congruence classes are programmed based on a particular procedure of the application software which is running on the processor, that might otherwise run with excessive "striding" of the cache. Alternatively, operating-system software may monitor allocation of memory blocks in the cache and provides the program instructions to modify the original addresses based on the allocation of the memory blocks, to lessen striding.

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